FEINBERG v. PFEIFFER COMPANY Case Brief
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tl;dr: A company promised a lifetime pension to a loyal employee upon her retirement. When the company later stopped payments, the court enforced the promise under the doctrine of promissory estoppel, finding the employee’s retirement in reliance on the promise made it binding.
Legal Significance: This case is a foundational application of promissory estoppel under Restatement of Contracts § 90, establishing that a promisee’s foreseeable and detrimental reliance (such as retiring from employment) can serve as a substitute for consideration, rendering a gratuitous promise enforceable.
FEINBERG v. PFEIFFER COMPANY Law School Study Guide
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Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
Plaintiff Anna Feinberg was a long-time, valued employee of the defendant, Pfeiffer Company. In 1947, the company’s Board of Directors passed a resolution to provide her with a pension of $200 per month for life, effective whenever she chose to retire. The resolution cited her many years of loyal service. The promise was communicated to Feinberg, who had no prior knowledge of the plan. She was not required to continue working for any period and made no promise to do so. Approximately eighteen months later, Feinberg retired from her lucrative position. The company paid the pension for several years. After a change in management, the company’s new president, considering the payments a gift, reduced the amount. Feinberg refused the reduced payment and sued to enforce the original promise. At the time the payments were stopped, Feinberg was over 63 years old and had developed cancer, rendering her unemployable.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Is a promise to pay a lifetime pension enforceable when it is not supported by bargained-for consideration, but the promisee subsequently retires from gainful employment in reliance on that promise?
Yes, the promise is enforceable. The court held that although the promise Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure d
IRAC Legal Analysis
About IRAC analysis
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Legal Issue
Is a promise to pay a lifetime pension enforceable when it is not supported by bargained-for consideration, but the promisee subsequently retires from gainful employment in reliance on that promise?
Conclusion
This case solidifies promissory estoppel as a key legal doctrine for enforcing Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim v
Legal Rule
Under the doctrine of promissory estoppel, a promise is binding if the Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in volup
Legal Analysis
The court first dismissed traditional contract formation theories. It agreed with the Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillu
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- A promise to pay a pension based on past services is